Face to Face with Fellow Face-bookers

It is rare when my weekend off coincides with the Saturday morning bird walks at CNC, so I knew today was going to be a good day when I looked at my calender. When the Cincinnati weather people were all forecasting a high of 72 degrees and low humidity levels, the day promised to be even better. But, when three local birding friends were available to meet at the Cincinnati Nature Center for a morning of walking, talking, laughing, and oh, yes - nature-watching - I was certain today would be the best day of the summer.

Darlena Graham,
yet another trip leader who must suffer the Flock and our foibles

After meeting up in the parking lot (and discussing the state of our FarmVille farms), we hit the trails,

visiting ponds,

bird walk participants at Lotus Pond
Susan, naturally, is not paying attention.

fields,

and woods.

CNC volunteers have done a great job
clearing the understory of invasive honeysuckle.

the log cabin at Matt's Pond

Farmer Nina is outstanding, by a field.

Susan gets up-close and personal with a fun guy. (Fungi. Get it?)

My three amigas - Each one is pointing to a place where she thinks she sees a bird.

left to right: Mary Ann, Nina, Susan

Lots of nature was present today, including insects like this "dog day" (annual) cicada (not to be confused with last year's irruption of periodical cicadas, aka "17 year locusts")

For the record, no, I did not throw this one on Susan.

And plants. Too beautiful to be called weeds, I prefer the term "wildflower" for these gems.

Ironweed

Jewelweed

For Jim McCormac: a sedge.

Nut sedge, I think.

"Sedges have edges."

Finally, the trip list. If you think you were going to get through a post about a bird walk and NOT get a Trip List, you obviously haven't been reading this blog very long.

Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue Jay
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
American Robin
Scarlet Tanager
Indigo Bunting
Northern Cardinal
Eastern Towhee
Field Sparrow
Common Grackle
American Goldfinch

In addition, there was a bird that I initially called a female Scarlet Tanager, but something about it wasn't right. In retrospect, I think it was a female Orchard Oriole.

24 species plus one question mark isn't that great of a trip list, but notice - no starlings or house sparrows, a four woodpecker day (anything over 3 woodpecker species constitutes a good day for me), and some really cool birds. Plus, the fun of being with friends topped my day.

Yes, today was definitely the best day of the summer. So far.

Wordless Wednesday: Three Birder-Blogger-Buddies

photo by Jeff Gordon

Visiting with friends

Two women came to the tri-state area last night. Can you guess which one I was happier to see?

I drove past the Clermont County fairgrounds, site of a Republican rally featuring Alaska's woman governor, on my way to visit with some more important women. Julie Zickefoose was in town for a series of talks and field trips with 500 middle school students. She was staying with Nina, who graciously invited Susan and I to her lovely home for a bloggrrl get-together.

Julie regales us with snake tales.

It has been ages since I have seen either Julie or Nina, and I was happy to make the trek to see them both. After my struggles when I met with Nina, Susan, and Trixie at Trixie's mother's home, my navigational skills were called into question. Everyone was worried about me getting lost on my way to Nina's country home, but country directions are the kind I understand: "Go past the firehouse, turn at the unmarked country road across from the Grange. If you pass the high school, you went too far." I was the first one there.

A surprise guest was the fabulous Chet Baker. He created me in his usual exuberant way - leaping at me until I knelt down to say hello, then giving me a smooshy-faced kiss, which always includes a little tongue action, despite my tightly pursed lips. "Oooggy, Chet! What have you been licking?"


"Miss Susan has forgotten to bring me any treats. There is not even a goodie in her purse. Well. Perhaps I will shred this cereal box instead."

"Mether. There are no Cheerios in this box, so I will leave many small, small pieces on Miss Nina's floor. You may clean them up for me when I am done."


"Thank you, Miss Nina, for the massage. You are a very good doggeh massager and you may continue until I fall asleep in your lap."


Nina had a surprise of her own - one of her darling baby rat snakes, which she had found that day. She kept in a terrarium for us, knowing we would appreciate it.

Everyone got to hold it and of course we had to take pictures.

"I was just looking for a warm place to sleep.
I disaprove of being handled and photographed in this manner."

Thank you, Nina, for your hospitality. It was great to get to see you all again.

Dining out in Cape May

Finding food in a new place can be a challenge, but advice from locals or people who have been there before always help.

Susan recommended this pizza place for a quick bite on our first night in Cape May. Here I got "a slice" and a Snapple lemonade.
Pizza by the slice has a very New York sort of feel to me. And an East Coast "slice" is much more generous than one in Ohio.

Susan and Laura had also eaten here before:
I wonder if the shorts-wearing waiter had anything to do with their rave reviews. The cheese ravioli and huge meatballs were to die for. I was surprised at the number of Italian restaurants in Cape May. I didn't see any Mexican or Chinese places, but lots of Italian ones. Maybe it has something to do with the Guidos?

Susan, are you dreaming about the waiter?
Or plotting a way to get corporate sponsorship for your blog?

Here is a Cape May institution, right on the beach:
Birders are practically required to have breakfast at Uncle Bill's at least once during the Autumn Weekend. Sadly, once was all I could afford; pancakes, sausage, OJ and milk plus tip ran me nearly $20.

I didn't get a photo of the C-View Inn, sports bar cum restaurant, where we ate, drank, and made merry on Saturday night. Nine televisions and the rumor that Pete Dunne eats there were good enough for me. The crab cakes were good, though small. They don't do a frozen margarita, only on the rocks, so I settled for Corona with a wedge of lime. Good thing, too, as I don't think the group was ready for KatDoc on tequila.

This little diner was not in Cape May, not even in New Jersey, but across the bay in Lewes, Del. It was the site of my oh-too-brief dinner with Holly-the-person, my e-friend of 8 years who I finally got to meet in real life.


The food was good but the company better. I had flounder, stuffed with crab meat (yum!), loaded mashed potatoes and a cake called "Tres Leches," which was made of three kinds of milk.

Holly-the-person
"For I have friends I've never met."
Well-met, Holly!